BBC World Service Interview August/September 2011

In the broadcast, Sada relates how she was forced to flee her native Somalia as a child, and how she has now returned as an archaeologist to try and preserve what's left of her country's physical history.

(opens the BBC radio iPlayer in your browser, duration ca 26 minutes)

About this website

Somali heritage is a website that aims to raise world-wide awareness about Somali cultural heritage and pre-history. It presents the extensive research, preservation and capacity building work carried out by Dr Sada Mire, an archaeologist and heritage worker. Somalis possess a rich cultural heritage and pre-history. However, until Sada Mire’s work very little research had been carried out in these areas and Somali cultural heritage has suffered great neglect. The website aims to provide unique information about the current status of Somali cultural heritage in all the Somali territories. In the near future, it will also inform about heritage, belonging and identity within the Somali Diaspora.

Our cultural heritage should be a human right. Somali heritage should be researched, preserved and protected in order to develop the quality of life of people. In this spirit, Sada helped establish a Department of Antiquities for the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Somaliland.
The main objectives of the website are to:

Present the current reconstruction work of Somaliland cultural resources carried out by Sada Mire with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and with the Department of Antiquities

Inform about current heritage projects and developments

Raise awareness about the importance of the preservation of the heritage of the Horn of Africa and that of the Somali people

Inform about the endangered Somali cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible

Disseminate information about research into archaeology and cultural heritage